COVID-19 AMA: Rise In LA County Cases, Booster Shots And More (Listen at 0:00)
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg of UC Davis.
Topics today include:
- L.A. County reports over 2,000 coronavirus cases
- Biden officials think vulnerable populations will need booster shots
- One report from Israel suggests that early vaccines more likely to catch Covid
- How effective are pop-up vaccine clinics?
- How is the world dealing with the Delta variant?
- National doctors and nurses groups call for mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers
- Development of pill for Covid treatment
- NYC to require weekly tests or vaccination for city employees
California Is Leading The Global Charge On EVs, But The Gathering Metals Needed For Batteries Could Have Unintended Consequences (Listen at 34:08)
As a part of its green initiatives, California has made a push to make electric vehicles a lot more of the norm in its highways and streets. Last September, governor Gavin Newsom announced a plan to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. This decrease in gas-powered cars, in theory, would lead to more sales in electric vehicles and a higher demand for the components that they require in the manufacturing process. This has led to companies beginning to mine for said components, such as lithium, which has been commonly found across the Earth’s seabeds.
This move by companies has created some cause for concern by environmentalists, with them stating that the excessive mining of minerals such as lithium on seabeds can cause irreparable harm to the ocean and in turn hurt the environment. Today on AirTalk, Larry discusses with LA times staff writer Evan Halper and UCSB professor of marine and ocean science Douglas McCauley about the issue and what balance must be struck in order to benefit the environment.
California Could Limit Water Access To Farmers Amid The Drought. What Are The Implications? (Listen at 51:41)
California is facing a drought. Now, the state’s water regulators are considering cutting off thousands of farmers’ access to state waterways. According to the Sacramento Bee, the State Water Resources Control Board enacted an emergency order Friday, something the board didn’t do during the last drought. The board still has to vote at the beginning of August. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the details of the order and what the implications could be for farmers, the state and the environment. Call 866-893-5722 if you have questions or comments.
Is LA Losing The Fight Against Slum Housing? (Listen at 1:15:33)
As Los Angeles County continues the battle against COVID-19, housing advocates say it’s losing a different war — the fight against slum housing.
During the pandemic, tenants living with roaches, crumbling walls and lack of hot water have struggled to get help from the County Department of Public Health, the same agency responsible for L.A.’s pandemic response. Even when the department has cited landlords, repairs often don’t happen — and tenants say the county is failing to hold negligent property owners accountable. Today on AirTalk, KPCC business and economy reporter David Wagner joins for more.
Read the full LAist story here.
Eyes On The Pies: What’s Your Favorite Pie And The History Behind it? (Listen at 1:24:58)
A Washington Post opinion piece raised concerns about the future of America’s beloved dessert, the pie. Columnist Megan McArdle opined that Americans don’t give pie crusts the same level of love and care that they used to, amid the prevalence and ease of pre-made crusts. So how did one of America’s favorite baked goods reach such a low point? Today on AirTalk, Larry speaks with Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle about her column, and we also want to hear from you: Do you agree with this sentiment? What local pie shops do you think best represent the United States’ pie tradition? Are there any family pie recipes that have been passed down to you that you still cherish and bake to this day? Join the conversation, call us at 866-893-5722.